Illuminated display-sign.



No. 632,882. PatentedSept. l2, I899.

c. c. SCDTT.

ILLUMINATED DISPLAY SIGN.

Application filed May 15, 1899.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT Prion.

CHARLES CALVERT SCOTT, OF COVINGTON, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE W.HOl/VELL, OF SAMEPLACE.

ILLUMINATED DISPLAY-SIGN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,882, datedSeptember 12, 1899.

Application filed May 15, 1899. Serial No. 716,848. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, OHAnLns CALVERT SCOTT, residing at Covington, in thecounty of Kenton and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Illuminated Display-Signs, of which the followingis a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an illuminated sign in which asource of light of small candle power can be utilized to the bestadvantage.

The features of my invention are more fully set forth in the descriptionof the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, inwhich Figure l is a front elevation of my device. Fig. 2 isa top planView. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail elevation of one of the letters andits supporting-frame. Fig. 4 is a reverse view of Fig. 3, showing thelatter secured in position in the box. Fig. 5 is an enlarged section online a; :0, Fig. 3, showing a diagram of light-rays.

For convenience of illustration I have shown a box in which only oneface is used for displaying the sign, but in practice generally twosides are provided with the illuminated sign, so as to read from bothdirections.

The principal object of my invention is to utilize mainly reflectedlight-rays for illuminating my sign, resulting in an economy of thesource of light.

Either a letter, symbol, figure, or design may be displayed, which Iinclude for the sake of brevity under the general term of it Sign.

A represents the box having iridescent interior sides; B, the sign; 0,the source of light suitably located.

In order to get the fullest effect of reflected light, I preferably formthe entire inner sides, top, and bottom of the box of burnished metal orother material having a highly-iridescent surface. The box may beconveniently made of sheet metal and the interior of polished platedmetal. The light-rays are thus reflected around the sides of the lettersand also around the top and bottom of the letters from one end of thebox to the other.

A is the face of the box, provided with the sign-openings D, which Ihave shown as letters spelling the word sign. The sign-aperture D has ofcourse the outline of the display-sign B, and the display-sign issupported in rear of the aperture. A screen or back E is supported inrear of the sign B. For convenience it is attached to and forms a backfor the sign following the outlines, but projecting flange-like beyondthe sign and beyond the inside edges of the displayaperture. This screenprevents the direct lightrays from escaping entirely through theaperture. The sign preferablyhas raised faces, bevel faces being shown,and these faces protrude through the aperture. The reflected rays fromthe sides of the box pass between the edges of the screen and the edgesof the aperture and play upon the raised faces of the latter and arereflected therefrom outwardly, as illustrated by the diagram in Fig. 5.Some direct rays may pass between the edge of this screen and the edgeof the aperture; but the screen is made wide enough to prevent thesedirect rays from passing beyond the apex of the beveled faces, so thatno direct rays cross each other and are wasted. It is not essential,however, to have the raised faces, as the edges of the aperture might beinturned and flat or even a concaved-face sign used, the screen servingto throw the reflected rays upon it.

The preferred method of securing the screen or back and its sign is byscrews f tapping the face of the box and holding the back, springs gbeing used on the shanks of the screws to force the back inward againstnuts h. This affords a delicate means for regulating the position ofthesign and back relative to the display-aperture.

The sign or letters are outlined at night when the box is lighted up bythe reflected rays falling upon the faces of the letters and beingreflected therefrom, and some direct rays fall upon the raised faces butall the direct rays terminate at one side of the apexes of the raisedletters. The appearance presented is unique, attractive, and beautiful,the sign being outlined as though the light were transmitted through atransparent me-,

dium. The light produces change-color effects as the sign is viewed fromdilferent perspectives. Most of the illuminationis due to a double oreven multiple reflection of the light-rays. The rays of light emittedfrom the faces of the sign appear to radiate as from a common center.

This form of illuminated display-sign results in an economy of light, asa small candle-power light may be used with perfectly satisfactoryresults. To illustrate, if a single light were placed in the middle of abox in which the lettering in the face consisted of the ordinarytransparent medium the sign would be bright in the center and fade awaytoward each end. \Vith my device the letters from end to end aredisplayed with equal clearness and prominence, due to the fact that thelight received by the letters is mainly light reflected from the sidesof the box passing around the screens between the edges of the aperturesandthe letters and being arrested by the raised faces of the letters andreflected therefrom.

I preferably employ opaque material for the sign, selecting one whichwill be ornamental and which will contrast With the face of the sign, soas to be obvious and attractive either day or night.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. In an illuminateddisplaydevice,theco1nbination of a box having an iridescent interior, alight located therein, a display-aperture in the face of said box, anopaque display-sign supported in rear of said aperture and a screeninterposed between said sign and said light, substantially as specified.

2. In an illuminated display device,the combination of a box having aniridescent interior, a light located therein, a display-aperture in theface of said box, an opaque display-sign having raised faces protrudingthrough said aperture and supported in rear thereof and a screeninterposed between said sign and said light, substantially as specified.

3. In an illu minated display device,the combination of a box having aniridescent interior, a light located therein, a display-aperture in theface of said box, an opaque display-sign located in said box havingraised faces protruding between the edges of said aperture but out ofcontact therewith, and a screen supported in rear of said display-sign,the said screen being adapted to prevent the direct light-rays frompassing beyond the protruding raised faces of the sign, substantially asspecified.

4. In an illuminated display device,the combination of a box having aniridescent interior, a light located therein, one or moredisplayapertures in the face thereof, one or more opaque display-signscorresponding in outlines with the respective apertures supported inrear thereof and having opaque flanges, projecting beyond the margins ofsaid apertures, substantially as specified.

5. In an illuminated display device,the combination of a box having aniridescent interior, a light located in said box, a displayapertnre inthe face thereof, an opaque sign having raised faces supported in rearof said aperture but out of contact with the edges thereof, and opaqueflanges formed around the edges of the sign projecting beyond the insideedges of said aperture, substantially as specified.

6. In an illuminated display device,the com-' bination with a box havingan irridescent interior, a light located therein, a display-aperture inthe face of the box, a corresponding opaque display-sign supportedtherein, but out of contact with the edges thereof having raised facesprojecting through said aperture and opaque flanges projecting beyondthe inside edges of said aperture, substantially as specified.

7. In an illuminating display device, the combination of a box havingiridescent interior, a light located therein, a dispay-aperture in theface of said box, an opaque display-sign corresponding in outline withsaid aperture and supported in rear thereof, opaque flanges formed onsaid sign extending laterally beyond the edges of said aperture, thesaid sign having raised faces projecting through said aperture but outof contact therewith forming a space between the edges of the saidaperture and display-sign whereby the light-rays are reflected upon saidpro truding opaquefaces, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES CALVERT SCOTT.

\Vitnesses:

OLIVER B. KAISER, W. R. W001).

